Abergavenny U9's - 1

London Irish U9's - 5

THE Scene was very much one of green at Bailey Park last Saturday as the London Irish mini rugby team preceded the actions of their older Emerald Isle countrymen by laying waste to Welsh ambitions and trumping Abergavenny U9's 5-1.

In a sporting spectacular organised by Abergavenny RFC, the London Irish mini rugby team paid a visit to the battleground of Bailey Park to test their mettle against the mini claret and ambers.

They then travelled to the Millennium Stadium to watch the nerve-shredding and adrenaline-charged feast of rugby that saw Ireland wrest the grandslam title from Wales.

Not dissimilar to Saturday's main event, the game proved to be a bruising and testing encounter - as befitting a mini-side whose club's first team play in the Guinness Premiership.

Both teams came out and committed themselves to playing a very competitive game with every Abergavenny player on the pitch working hard to attack the Irish who appeared to flourish in the sunny conditions conducive to running rugby.

In the first-half Abergavenny covered a lot of hard yards, with some fast running forward play that benefited from the consistent passing of the ball and a field full of safe hands.

Good support play from Aber helped put the Irish on the back-foot and the Bailey Park youngsters were unlucky not to have come away with more from the period of sustained pressure they put the visitors under.

In the second-half the roles were reversed somewhat as Aber had to work hard in defence to keep the Irish at bay.

Yet, despite going down in terms of points, Aber were always determined to try and win the game and appeared to relish the challenge of defending well, whilst still looking to go forward, ball in hand, and catch the Irish napping.

Overall, all the parents and supporters present on the day were rewarded with a very sporting and entertaining game of rugby, played in a great atmosphere.

The head coach of London Irish was very impressed with the support and encouragement displayed, before thanking Abergavenny RFC and the organisers of the event.

He finished by stressing that all London Irish squad members were made to feel very welcome in Abergavenny, and how they now all looked forward to a return fixture.

MEANWHILE Abergavenny U10's suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Treharris at Bailey Park last Sunday.

The visitors proved to be too strong for the home team who nevertheless stuck bravely at their task losing by six tries to one.

Treharris raced into a three try lead and looked as if the floodgates might open, but Aber got a try back before half time when Alex Howes scored a fine individual try, running elusively to beat the Treharris defence.

The second half showed Aber bravely taking the game to their visitors, in particular forwards Thomas Crawford, Ben Pugh and Sam Beaven drove strongly.

Backs Nia Williams, Jack Meredith and Victoria Nuthall defended doggedly limiting Treharris to only three further tries in the second half.